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County ADRC warns of growing demand as donations and staff capacity strain services
Summary
ADRC staff told the St. Croix County Health & Human Services Board that referrals and demand are rising — from roughly 34 referrals per month toward a projected 45 — while donations for home-delivered meals dropped about $11,000; staff requested additional FTE time to handle options counseling workload.
Kristen Newton, ADRC administrator, told the Health & Human Services Board that referrals to ADRC specialists are increasing and that the program is straining current staffing levels. "About 30 days, give or take ... 34 a month is a pretty hefty amount," she said, and staff projected "at least 45 referrals per month" in 2026 if current trends continue.
Newton outlined the ADRC’s funding mix — Older Americans Act grants, state general purpose revenue, Medicaid claiming and county levy — and why demand affects staffing decisions. She said the ADRC recently converted two contracted therapy roles to in-house positions (a physical therapist and an occupational therapist) to improve continuity of care but that personnel costs rose as a result. Finance staff noted the hires were included in the 2026 budget and agreed to provide a written follow-up on some variance displays.
Newton also highlighted a roughly $11,000 decline in participant donations for home-delivered meals (account 48,510) and reminded the board that meals are provided regardless of ability to contribute. "We recommend [a contribution of] $7.50," she said for home-delivered meals, but added that people who cannot pay still receive meals. Newton urged the board to consider staffing capacity for information-and-assistance counseling, noting the ADRC added 0.25 FTE in the 2024 budget and is requesting additional fractional FTE to address rising referrals.
The presentation included service outcomes from 2025: ADRC staff responded to 3,325 information calls, generated more than $5,500,000 in financial benefits for residents, provided over 47,000 meals and coordinated more than 44,000 rides; Newton said ADRC volunteers contributed about 14,000 hours (estimated near $500,000 in value). The board asked staff to return with clarifying budget notes and accepted the presentation for further consideration at the July board meeting.
